ANSI 41 dialed number validation

Abstract

A cellular system in accordance with the principles of the present invention permits one node, or network element, within a cellular system to request dialed number validation from another network element in the cellular system. The invoking and responding nodes may be any of the following: a mobile switching center, a home location register, a service control point, or a service node. Upon reaching a state in call processing where further dialed number analysis may be required, the invoking node will send an ANSI-41 compliant dialed number validation request message to the node performing validation. The validating node will determine whether the dialed number is allowed under the subscriber's dialing plan. After making the determination, the validating node will return a message to the invoking node indicating whether the specified digits are allowed according to the subscriber's dialing plan.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for dialed number validation in an ANSI 41 cellular radio telecommunications system comprising: 
       a first network element responsive to an ANSI 41 feature request from a second network element by sending a dialed number validation request to a third network element, the third network element responsive to the dialed number validation request by validating the dialed number and sending a dialed number validation return result to the first network element, the first network element responsive to a reception of the dialed number validation return result by sending an ANSI 41 feature request return result reflective of the dialed number return result to the second network element.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dialed number validation request includes a mobile identification number in accordance with TIA/EIA 6.5.2.81. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the dialed number validation request includes dialed digits in accordance with TIA/EIA 6.5.2.58. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the feature request return result conforms to TIA/EIA 6.5.2.67. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the third network element processes the dialed number validation request by searching a dialing plan for a subscriber related to a mobile cellular unit from which the digits were dialed. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first network element is a serving mobile switching center for a cellular unit. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the third network element is a home mobile switching center for the cellular unit. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the third network element is a home location register for the cellular unit. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the third network element is a service control point. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the third network element is a service node. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first network element is a home location register for a cellular unit. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the third network element is a home mobile switching center for the cellular unit. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the third network element is a service control point within the network. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the third network element is a service node within the network. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first network element is a home mobile switching center for a cellular unit. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the third network element is a service control point within the network. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the third network element is a service node within the network. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first network element is a service control point and the third network element is a home mobile switching center for a cellular unit. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first network element is a service node within the network and the third network element is a home mobile switching center for a cellular unit. 
     
     
       20. A method for validating a dialed number in a network defined by the ANSI 41 cellular radio telecommunications inter-systems operations standard comprising the steps of: 
       (a) a first network element responding to an ANSI 41 feature request from a second network element by sending a dialed number validation request to a third network element,  
       (b) the third network element responding to the dialed number validation request by validating the dialed number and sending a dialed number validation return result to the first network element, and  
       (c) the first network element responding to a reception of the dialed number validation return result by sending an ANSI 41 feature request return result reflective of the dialed number return result to the second network element.  
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein step (a) comprises sending a mobile identification number in accordance with TIA/EIA 6.5.2.81. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20  wherein step (a) includes sending dialed digits according to TIA/EIA 6.5.2.58. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20  wherein step (c) comprises the step of sending a feature result in accordance with TIA/EIA 6.5.2.67. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20  wherein step (a) comprises sending a serving cell identification in accordance with TIA/EIA 6.5.2.117.